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Present:
The Prime Minister (Mr. St-Laurent), in the Chair,
The Minister of Defence Production (Mr. Howe),
The Minister of National Defence (Mr. Campney),
The Minister of National Health and Welfare (Mr. Martin),
The Secretary of State for External Affairs (Mr. Pearson),
The Minister of Finance (Mr. Harris).
The Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources (Mr. Lesage). (For Items III, IV and V)
The Secretary (Mr. Martin),
The Military Secretary (Captain Lucas).
The Chairman, Chiefs of Staff, ( General Foulkes),
The Chief of the Air Staff (Air Marshal Slemon),
The Chief of the General Staff (Lieutenant-General Graham),
The Chief of the Naval Staff (Vice Admiral DeWolf),
The Chairman, Defence Research Board (Mr. Zimmerman).
The Secretary to the Cabinet (Mr. Bryce),
The Deputy Minister of Welfare (Dr. Davidson),
The Deputy Minister of Defence Production (Mr. Golden),
The Deputy Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs (Mr. Macdonnell),
Mr. R.G. MacNeill, (Department of Finance).
. . .
V. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION TO USAF TO STATION FORCES AT RCAF STATION, FROBISHER BAY
15. The Secretary of State for External Affairs recalled that, subject to certain conditions, the USAF had been authorized in 1951 to repair the wartime facilities at Frobisher Bay and station there up to 150 military personnel. The USAF, through the Permanent Joint Board on Defence, had indicated there would be a continuing need for the use of the airport in support of the Distant Early Warning Line and the northeast line of communications. The USAF had made provision in its 1957 construction programme for badly needed improvements in the facilities but before such an expenditure could be authorized it was felt that assurance of the right of occupancy for a longer period would be required. Twenty years had been suggested.
In reply to this request it had been stated that twenty years seemed to be out of keeping with the arrangements made between the two countries in connection with other defence projects and that the US would be better advised to consider an arrangement similar to that adopted in the case of the DEW line. The US authorities agreed with this suggestion and proposed that notes be exchanged which would grant the USAF the right to station forces at Frobisher for a period of ten years or such shorter period as might be mutually agreed. The Advisory Committee on Northern Development concurred in the proposal.
He recommended, with the concurrence of the Minister of National Defence, that he be authorized to exchange notes
agreeing to this proposal.
An explanatory memorandum had been circulated.
(Minister's memorandum, May 15, 1956 - Document D8-56?).
16. During the discussion the following points emerged:
(a) The government had agreed in principle that the air strips at Hall Lake, Cambridge Bay and Frobisher Bay be manned by the Department of Transport but a final decision was postponed pending an approach to the US to see if the arrangements which could be worked out might be acceptable. It was most desirable that the proper control of Frobisher be in Canadian hands and it would also be desirable to announce any new arrangements regarding the Department of Transport assumption of control at the same time as it was agreed to allow the USAF to have a longer term of tenure at Frobisher Bay.
(b) Frobisher was an exceptionally busy airport and would continue to be so for some time. By far the largest proportion of traffic was American and it would therefore be sensible to allow the US to continue to exercise the kind of control which it now had. It was argued, on the other hand, that Canadian aircraft used the base to a certain degree, that it was an alternate base for airlines flying over the Pole and that it was desirable in principle that this be a Canadian installation.
(c) There was no doubt that it would be a strain on the Department of Transport to control and operate Frobisher
effectively. A memorandum should be prepared as soon as possible indicating the Department of Transport's plans for this new assignment and the resources involved.
17. The Committee noted the report of the Secretary of State for External Affairs on the proposal for the terms of tenure for the stationing of United States Air Force units at Frobisher Bay, and agreed to recommend that, subject to a reconciliation with the previous decision of the government concerning the operation by the Department of Transport of the airfields at Frobisher and two other locations, notes be exchanged with the United States permitting the USAF to station forces at Frobisher for a period of ten years or such shorter period as may be mutually agreed.
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